If Non-Partisan Association city council candidate Jason Lamarche has his way, NPA could also come to stand for no puppies available at Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»retail pet stores. The rookie politician held his first press conference Monday morning at Nelson Parks fenced off-leash dog area to announce his hope of permanently banning the sale of dogs in Vancouver.
They say every politician has a pet project, this one is mine, said Lamarche, 34, who said his initiative also has the support of NPA mayoral candidate Suzanne Anton.
If elected and the motion passed, Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»would become only the third city in Canada to ban the sale of dogsmostly puppiesfrom pet stores.
The City of Richmond banned the sale of dogs and rabbits last October, while Toronto adopted banned the sale of cats and dogs in September.
The first step in responsible ownership is in how you acquire your pet, said Lamarche, who was joined by NPA park board candidate Melissa De Genova and his black Lab, Cletus, who was adorned in a blue T-shirt with buttons endorsing his masters candidacy. I believe that purchasing a dog requires more consideration that a pair of jeans. Puppies that are often bought on impulse too often are discarded and require extensive treatment, rehabilitation and adoption services paid for by taxpayers. This ban will provide more humane conditions for dogs, as well as break the link between puppy mills and retail stores.
Lamarche, co-founder of the annual West End Dog Show fundraiser for the B.C. Guide Dog Services charity, said it is far better for prospective pet owners to adopt an animal from the BCSPCA or Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Animal Control, who both screen applicants.
Helen Savkovic of the Richmond Animal Shelter said she has noticed a decline in the number of unwanted purebreds being abandoned since the ban was brought in by Richmond city council.
I dont have the actual numbers because its has only been a year but what I have noticed is were not getting as many people saying I bought this last week or last month at the pet store and now I dont want it.
Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»has very few stores that sell puppies. Pet Habitat recently closed its location in Tinseltown, although the chain still operates outlets in Burnaby and Coquitlam, while the owner of the Urban Puppy Shop in Kitsilano said it no longer sells puppies.
I was never in the business to put more dogs in shelters, said owner Philip Rooyakkers. If ever someone purchased a dog from us and decided, whether it was two months or two years or whatever, they could no longer take that dog, our contract specifically said that if you bring the dog back to us, we will find it a new home. But just because the city might want to ban the sale of dogs at retail outlets, I dont think that will necessarily solve the issue because there will always be Craigslist and the Internet.
Twitter: @flematic
